Showing posts with label cheap low carb dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cheap low carb dinner. Show all posts

Friday, September 16, 2011

Low Carb Haluski (Cheap Low Carb Dinner)


Haluski (pronouned ha-loosh-key) is an Eastern European dish. It's like their version of a stir-fry.

While it's not terribly photogenic, it is full of bacon-y goodness.

It's a one skillet meal that comes together in less than an hour and is also cheap.

The main ingredients are affordable, especially if you are shopping at Costco (seriously, bacon is half the supermarket price).


Ingredients for 4-6 servings:
  • 1/2 pkg. bacon, finely diced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 1 green cabbage, diced
  • 1/2 pkg. cooked Carba Nada noodles (optional)
  • 2-3 tbsps butter (optional)
  • 1 container cottage cheese (estimate 1/2 cup per serving) (also optional)

Serving Suggestion: For those of you really watching your carbs, omit the noodles, they aren't low carb enough for active weight loss. If the protein content isn't high enough, serve with some roasted chicken (although remember that bacon fat is very satiating).

And yes, the cottage cheese actually tastes pretty good. It's a substitute for an Eastern European cheese called Brinza. No, it's not typically added to Haluski proper, but it's used in similar dishes (meaning the flavor works) and is a good way to bump up the protein content.

Instructions:

1. Put the pot on to cook the noodles and chop your veggies while you're waiting for the water to boil. Remove the noodles from boiling water once they are cooked.

2.Dice the bacon and throw into a large skillet. Add the onion.

3.Saute the bacon and onion on medium heat until well caramelized--takes about 15-20 minutes. If the pan bottom gets too brown, add a few tbsps of water and scrape the bottom.

4.Add the diced cabbage and cook until it wilts. About 5 minutes.

5.Now it's time for the cooked noodles. Cook everything for another 5 to 8 minutes. Add in a couple tbsps of butter if you wish (we like it).

6.Stir in a 1/2 cup or so of cottage cheese into each serving. Garnish with salt and pepper.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Cheap Low Carb Dinner: Chicken Thighs and Green Beans


This meal comes together with just a few inexpensive ingredients: Chicken thighs and green beans.

Chicken thighs are a tasty, yet cheap cut of chicken. Green beans are on sale right now for 99 cents a pound. Cheap, cheap, cheap.

Not to mention this meal has become one of my favorites as it is delicious too.

Ingredients for 4 People:

-8 chicken thighs with skin (assuming 2 per person)
-4 tbsps. butter or olive oil
-As much as you like of McCormick Perfect Pinch Rotisserie Chicken Seasoning (Love this stuff, it is awesome!)
-1 1/2 lbs green beans
-2 strips of bacon, diced
-1/2 an onion, finely diced

Instructions:

1.Preheat oven to 400F (sometimes I cook it at 375F, so somewhere in there is great.)

2. Place thighs in a pan and smear the skin of each thigh with 1/2 tbsp. of butter and top with the McCormick seasoning--just shake it on, as much as you want.

3.Bake for 45-55 minutes. Don't take it out until the skin is nice and crisp.

4.While the chicken is cooking, steam the green beans for 5 minutes.

5.In a skillet, brown the onion and bacon. This takes 5-8minutes. Watch it closely so it doesn't burn!

6. Add the green beans and toss everything together.

7.Turn off the burner, put a lid on the pan and set aside while the chicken finishes cooking.

Related Posts:

Indian Butter Chicken

Low Carb Grilled Chicken Indian Style